The Story – Context for Catechesis
Posted on September 11th, 2008
In the catechumenate of the early Church, the early Church Fathers recounted the history of salvation (also known as “Salvation History“) to their audience (inquirers and catechumens) using the Bible and Church History.
We especially see this clearly in St. Augustine’s “First Catechetical Instruction” (In Latin: De Catechizandis Rudibus). St. Augustine wrote this famous work to a deacon of Carthage named Deogratias in AD 405 as advice on what to present to an inquirer. This story of Salvation History is referred to by Augustine as the narratio – the “narration”
Before we go on, let’s take a look at two quotations from the Church’s General Directory for Catechesis:
“In the patristic period properly, catechumenal formation was realized through Biblical catechesis, based on recounting the history of salvation” (#89)
“The historical character of the Christian message requires that catechesis attend to the following points … presentation of salvation history by means of Biblical catechesis so as to make known the ‘deeds and words’ with which God has revealed himself to man: the great stages of the Old Testament by which he prepared the journey of the Gospel; the life of Jesus, Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary who by his actions and teaching brought Revelation to completion; the history of the Church which transmits Revelation: this history, read within the perspective of faith, is a fundamental part of the context of catechesis” (#108)
In a nutshell, the catechist – in one RCIA session – tells the Story of God’s Family from before creation to the end of time. In other words, the catechist begins with the eternal life of the Blessed Trinity and finishes with the Final Coming of Jesus Christ. [Click here to read the rest of this entry… » ]
Tags: The Story
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RCIA Overview Chart
Posted on September 5th, 2008
RCIA Overview Chart, 2nd Edition
Association for Catechumenal Ministry
ISBN: 978-1-933374-12-3
Distributed by Liturgy Training Publications
To Order by Phone: (800) 933-1800
Orders outside U.S. & Canada: (773) 486-5630
Price: $6 ea. – Purchase Online
Quantity Discount Pricing
2-19 – 16.67%
20-49 – 25.00%
50+ – 33.33%
Available in both Spanish and English, this color-coded, foldout overview chart shows the entire catechumenal process at a glance. It highlights the liturgical, catechetical, and pastoral aspects of each of the 4 Periods of the RCIA and shows the different paths of the unbaptized participants, baptized uncatechetized participants, and the baptized catechized participants within the process. [Click here to read the rest of this entry… » ]
Tags: Overview Chart
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RCIA Godparent and Sponsor Handbook
Posted on August 24th, 2008
RCIA Godparent and Sponsor Handbook
Association for Catechumenal Ministry
Barbara A. Morgan and William J. Keimig, Editors
ISBN: 978-1-933374-04-8
Distributed by Liturgy Training Publications
To Order by Phone: (800) 933-1800
Orders outside U.S. & Canada: (773) 486-5630
Price: $7 ea. – Purchase Online
This inexpensive and succinct booklet provides a straightforward and practical aide to those serving as sponsors or godparents in the Christian Initiation processes in their parish. It is pragmatic, spiritual, down-to-earth, and easy to read. It enables parish RCIA leaders to provide a high-quality means of effectively communicating the Church’s intentions for this crucial ministry of companionship and conversion in the catechumenate. [Click here to read the rest of this entry… » ]
Tags: Godparents, Sponsors
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Pastoral Formation
Posted on August 21st, 2008
The RCIA process is a growth in intimacy as much as in knowledge. Alongside the powerful liturgical movements of the process and the faithful catechetical endeavor, there is also an intense pastoral activity, which must be initiated from the first time an inquirer expresses interest in the Church. This activity operates with the knowledge that each participant will vary in his or her background, lifestyle, motivation, and state in life. Those doing RCIA ministry should steep themselves in the lives of the participants, with gentleness, prudence and a genuine desire to open their hearts wide (cf. 2 Cor 6:11).
The pastoral components are the people who participate, some intimately and others from a distance, in Jesus’ work of conversion and discipleship. The pastoral work of the catechumenal process is accomplished through the love and labor of many people, including the following: clergy, catechists, hospitality folks, sponsors, small group leaders, prayer intercessors, and parish members. This pastoral work is a people-to-person endeavor – all the people impacting this one person for the Lord. Pastoring involves both information and formation. [Click here to read the rest of this entry… » ]
Tags: Pastoral Formation
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What Is the RCIA Supposed to Be?
Posted on August 20th, 2008
Download and read the PDF article titled: To the Threshold and to the Fullness: What Is the RCIA Supposed to Be? to read a general introduction to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
A quote from the above article:
“The intention of the following paragraphs is to open a discussion on the nature of catechumenal ministry – that work of God and his people which seeks to invite and initiate new members into the Mystical Body of Christ… In this article, the RCIA process will be examined from three distinct aspects: liturgical, catechetical, and pastoral. It is useful to discuss the nature and scope of each period of the process in light of these three aspects. All three are equally important. It is an injustice to those considering or seeking union with Holy Mother Church to be unambiguously catechetical to the detriment of the liturgical aspect, or be wonderfully pastoral despite poor catechesis. In order for the catechumenate to be what it has the potential to be, RCIA leaders can benefit greatly from understanding the implications of its liturgical, catechetical, and pastoral dimensions to make available the fullness of the process as intended by the Church.”
Tags: Introduction to the RCIA
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The Ecclesial Method
Posted on August 18th, 2008
The Ecclesial Method is a method of carrying out catechesis that is rooted deeply in our Catholic tradition, which can be used effectively within the parish catechumenate. This blog entry will give a very practical and brief overview of the method so that the reader will be able to become familiar with the method and use it in his/her own parish RCIA catechesis.
The 5 Stages of the Ecclesial Method:
1. Preparation
2. Proclamation
3. Explanation
4. Application
5. Celebration
The RCIA Catechist’s Manual (from the On the Journey Series distributed by Liturgy Training Publications) follows this method in its outline for each catechetical session.
Step 1 – Preparation
This first step is calculated disengagement. The individuals coming to the catechetical session have their own worries, preoccupations, excitements, griefs, and anxieties. So, the first thing we want to do is to prepare the minds and hearts of our students for the truth God wishes to feed them today in our session. We want to put them in the right frame of mind, to be docile to what the Holy Spirit wishes to do in the hour or so to follow as they receive the catechesis. [Click here to read the rest of this entry… » ]
Tags: Ecclesial Method
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Liturgical Elements of the Catechumenate
Posted on August 15th, 2008
Download and read the PDF article titled: Grace Elevating Nature: Liturgical Elements of the RCIA Catechumenate Period to discover the liturgical elements of the Christian initiation process.
A quote from the above article:
“The Christian initiation process is intended to be fundamentally liturgical. Participants need and have a right to the grace that flows from the font of the Church’s liturgy as it is made available to them as catechumens and candidates prior to full communion. This grace is an indispensable aid to conversion and the means by which they inter into intimate union with Christ and his Church. The steps towards this intimate union can be referred to as the major rites of the RCIA process – the gateways through which participants knowingly and freely decide to pass in their journey towards the divine consummation of the holy Eucharist. Supporting these major rites are various minor rites, some belonging to the period of the catechumenate and others to the period of purification and enlightenment.”
Tags: Liturgical Rites
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St. Paul – A Catechetical Saint
Posted on August 13th, 2008
St. Paul: A Model Catechetical Saint for Contemporary Catechesis
Throughout the history of the Church, men and women rise to the occasion of exemplary holiness, and the Church holds up such children of God as models for holiness in our own lives as well as intercessors for our own needs as they number among the Church Triumphant in heaven. Specifically, a catechetical saint is such an individual who was devoted to teaching the faith in some capacity. It is to these saints that today’s catechists look for inspiration and intercession as the faith is tirelessly proclaimed to all men and women of goodwill. Among the number of catechetical saints, Saint Paul stands in the beginning among the original apostles as a “holy one” who, after a tremendous and sudden conversion, engaged in catechesis for the rest of his earthly life as he bore incredible hardships for the sake of his students. Therefore, St. Paul serves as a model for the catechist serving the parish catechumenal process. By looking to Paul, the catechist can grow in his/her formation in a truly authentic way. [Click here to read the rest of this entry… » ]
Tags: St. Paul
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What about the Eastern Rites?
Posted on August 5th, 2008
Q. How often do RCIA programs include information on the other Churches in the Catholic fold (Maronites, Byzantines, etc.)? I know from my wife’s RCIA experience and from those of my friends (former catechumens and leaders alike) that they are rarely discussed if ever?
A. The frequency of mentioning the Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church depends upon the RCIA leader and catechists in a given RCIA team. These rites should at least be introduced in a summary fashion during the catechumenate. In the RCIA Participant’s Book (part of the On the Journey Series of RCIA materials), we recommend giving the participants the handout under Special Topics that is titled: “What Is a Rite?“
Tags: Eastern Rites
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Catechesis in the Catechumenate
Posted on August 4th, 2008
Download and read the PDF article titled: The Standard of Teaching: Catechesis in the RCIA Catechumenate Period to find the answer to the question: What do I teach and when should I teach it?
A quote from the above article:
“Catechesis cannot be considered systematic and organic solely because it covers a great deal of material or is lengthy. A defining characteristic of a systematic and organic catechesis is its presentation according to the hierarchy of truths (see CCC 90, 234; GDC 114-115). Participants need to understand certain truths first in order to be able to understand others, and as catechesis proceeds, each truth needs to be linked to those taught previously.”
An example: In their catechesis, the catechumens and candidates must come to understand the person and work of Jesus before they explore the Marian dogmas. Then, when Mary is presented, her Immaculate Conception, Perpetual Virginity, Divine Motherhood, and Assumption are shown to have relevance insofar as to who her Divine Son is and what his plan is for her. “What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #487).
Related Blog Entry
Also, see the blog entry titled: “Analyzing Doctrines – What to Teach“
Tags: Systematic Catechesis
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